Economic Development Services

Starting a New Business

Leamington recognizes the importance of small business to our local economy.  Most Canadian businesses have fewer than 50 employees yet create 90% of all new jobs.  Small business is able to succeed in today's rapidly changing world because they are more flexible, aggressive and stable. 

Business Licensing

The Municipality of Leamington has established a Comprehensive Business Licensing program. You may submit a Business Licence Application or contact Legal and Legislative Services for more information. 

BizPaL is easy to use and helps entrepreneurs generate a personalized list of the Permits and Licences they need, for all levels of government, to grow or start up their business. When you launch the application, you will be asked to answer a short series of questions. Your answers will generate a customized list of permits and licences that you may need for the municipal, provincial and federal governments.

Canada Business Ontario (CBO) is a federal/provincial service for business, jointly managed by Industry Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Government Services. The goal of CBO is to help business grow and succeed through streamlined access to reliable, up-to-date information on government services, which is tailored to the needs of SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Ontario Business Program Guide is your resource to government funded programs and services for Ontario business.

Leamington Self Employment Services

The Self Employment Assistance (SEA) Office is a provincially funded government program administered by St. Clair College for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Employment Ontario.  The SEA Office assists persons who are Employment Insurance eligible and who want to start and operate their own business. The SEA Office supports all types of businesses; sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. They offer assistance in business plan development, business administration classes and one-on-one consulting in accounting, advertising and graphic design, bookkeeping, business coaching, business law, marketing and sales.

For more information, contact Karen Gill-Gore, Program Manager, at 519-972-7705.

Useful Resources

Other services are available locally to assist in small business planning and start up.

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (SBEC): Business planning, counselling, information and workshops. Call 519-253-6900.  The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre also has a part time office in Essex at 39 Maidstone Ave. (co-located with the Essex Community Futures Development Office).  Call 519-776-1116 to book an appointment.

Community Futures Essex County
Business planning, support, financing. Address 39 Maidstone Avenue, Essex Ontario.  For more information please call 519-776-4611.